Hello, I'm Julia, and welcome to Beyond the Waves! My twin brother Michael was my inspiration to make this website. Michael is on the severe side of Down Syndrome, and is completely non-verbal. However, that doesn't stop him from enlightening those around him with his kindness and happiness. My mission is to share with those who have never had any experience with those in the special needs community a glimpse in the life of someone with a disability. All in order to disband the negative image surrounding the disabled population in today's society.

"According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 67-85% of fetuses in the United States and Europe are aborted after prenatal screening for Down Syndrome. In most of these cases, these are due to a lack of understanding regarding the DS community. If it weren't for Michael, I very well too could have had the same outlook."

-Julia Toronczak, Founder of Beyond the Waves

About the Founder

Julia Toronczak

Julia loves writing about how her twin brother, Michael, has influenced her life. She recently finished her degree in General Biology from UC San Diego, where she was also competed for the NCAA swim team for 4 years. When she’s not assisting in the wet lab of Rob Knight’s lab, she loves spending time by the beach, cooking, or practicing yoga. Michael was her inspiration for making this blog. He is completely non-verbal, but never fails to show his love to everyone. He loves going to the beach and watching the waves, along with going on walks.

Our Site

Michael's Journey

In this section, I include various posts revolving around Michael's life. Other than just sharing our trips around the beach, I include things Michael likes, his daily activities, and Q&A's.

Other Waves

If you're looking for other blogs that we love in the Special Needs world, you can find them here!

Guest Waves

This section includes stories from real people who have loved ones with Special Needs. You can also find links to other incredible Special Needs blogs that also raise awareness. We love hearing and sharing other stories, so if you would like to include yours then please submit a contact form!